Eva Katherine Jurisich Vujnovich

1929 - 2024

Eva Katherine Jurisich Vujnovich was born on March 30, 1929, to proud parents Frank & Neda "Baba" Jurisich. She was the beloved wife of the late Capt. Peter Vujnovich, Sr. and mother to Mary Jane Tesvich (Nedo), Anna Rose Nash (Raymond), Lana Jean Dessauer (David), Peter George Vujnovich, Jr., Frank Michael Vujnovich, (Lorine), and Tony John Vujnovich (Dorinda). She was known to many as a very kind, loving, generous and big-hearted individual. She left us on June 8, at the age of 95. She was the matriarch of our Vujnovich family and will miss her very much. Her early childhood was spent living in Bayou LaChute for the first 8 years with her parents and her brother Mitch. Then they built a house in Empire where she started school not knowing any English and finally got her first pair of shoes. She attended Buras High School and graduated in 1947. She then went to beauty school and opened her own beauty shop behind her house. At 16 years old, her former schoolteacher Anna Bannon started teaching her how to read music and play the organ at St. Ann church in Empire. After several years of music ministry at St. Ann, she then continued to serve 40 years at St. Francis Cabrini Church choir. While at Cabrini her choir was selected to sing for Pope John Paul II when he came to New Orleans in 1987. After losing her house in Hurricane Katrina, she continued her choir career for the next 10 years at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Belle Chasse. She met her future husband Captain Pete at 16 years old, when she caught his eye. He pursued her for 9 years before she accepted his proposal. They got married in 1954, moved to New Orleans and proceeded to start a family. She always dreamed of having a large family. That dream came true when God blessed her with 6 kids, 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandkids – and there's 1 more on the way. Family gatherings were always joyous occasions. Eva was always actively involved with her 6 children, from dance recitals with the girls and football with the boys, and many other events, as they grew. Eva was also active helping her husband for over 50 years with Capt. Pete's Oyster House on N. Rampart Street in New Orleans. She was just as active in her grandchildren's lives, as well. During the summer she would brave a ton of grandchildren at one time, sending the boys to sports camp and the girls to mini college and shopping at the mall. After 50 years of marriage Eva and Pete were blessed by Most Rev. Alfred C. Hughes, Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans. A solid woman for her family and community, she was featured in a Louisiana Women book which featured strong women and children of immigrants. She will be remembered as someone who loved playing the piano and singing for friends and family. She appeared on the Frank Davis's Natural N'Awlins show, singing and playing piano. She returned to the show for a feature on her canasta club, a group of friends she played with for over 50 years. Eva was a past president of the Vista Park Garden Club and also occasionally won the garden of the month. She was a dedicated and active member of the Louisiana Oyster Dealers and Growers Association in the Ladies Auxiliary and the Croatian American Society. The visitation will start at 12:45 p.m., Friday, June 14, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, located at 8968 LA-23, Belle Chasse, La. 70037. A funeral Mass will begin promptly at 2:15 p.m. The graveside service will immediately follow the Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery. Guests are invited to the reception at The Croation American Society Hall. To view and sign the family guest book, please log on to www.schoenfh.com.